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US Citizenship: Head Versus Heart

British Head and Heart are watching the evening news – never
a good idea, no matter which side of the Atlantic anyone resides. Tonight, Head’s
had enough.

“Right,” says Head. “Heart, we must get US citizenship. We
don’t have the right to complain about politics if we haven’t taken the steps
necessary to participate in the process.”

“But … But,” says Heart, “we vowed to remain British and
only British. You said you’d rather take a beating than have it any other way. Besides,
we’re going back to England permanently one day.”

“Well, Heart,” says Head, “we don’t know when that day will
come. And you’re taking a beating with all this anti-immigrant nonsense anyway so
what’s one more bashing? Get citizenship, participate in the next election and
let’s see if you feel better.” Head pats itself on the … head.

Heart sits in a corner, grizzling. “But I don’t want to get
US citizenship!”

“Take heart, Heart,” says Head. “There’s an advantage beyond
voting. As green card holders, we can only leave the US for six months at a
time. With one of our kids now living in England and one in the US, dual citizenship
allows us to be with each for as long as we please. Yay!” Head nudges Heart out
of the corner and hands it a tissue.

Now for the hard bit,
Head thinks. Getting Heart to fill in the paperwork. Copious amounts of
paperwork, including every flight taken since the invention of the aeroplane,
tax records the likes of which no US president must show, and family tree dating
back to 1066 – only anno domini, thank goodness.

Heart bleeds all over the forms. “I. Don’t. Wanna!”

“Stop it, Heart. This is exactly why I’m above you.”

“Oh yeah? This is exactly why I control your blood supply.”

“Shut up! Fill in the damn paperwork.”

Head and Heart get in the car, off to the biometrics
appointment, fighting about who should sit in the passenger seat and whether
they should stop at the rest area to hit the vending machine for a chocolate
bar. At the United States Customs and Immigration Enforcement office, the staff
take finger prints. And photos.

Heart fights for a retake. “We can’t stick that face on a
document that will haunt us the rest of our lives!”

Head replies,’ “If you’d just cheer up, the photos wouldn’t
look like they’d been taken by a mortician, would they now.” Heart picks up the
pen and check boxes as to eye and hair colour – after a spirited discussion
about the ethics of not mentioning natural hair colour. The car ride home is …
frosty.

Waiting for the citizenship interview is tough on Head. “We
need this done quickly and efficiently.”

Heart disagrees. ‘No hurry. Happy as I am, thanks.”

Regardless, the official letter arrives. Citizenship
interview date set for March 20th, 2019. “Plenty of time to learn
the answers to all 100 historical, geographical, and political questions for
the citizenship test,” says Head.

“What test?” says Heart, before entering cardiac arrest
territory on viewing the enormous book of questions that came with the letter.

Studying isn’t made any easier by the fact not a single US
citizen known to Head and Heart can answer any question on the test except
“What colour is the White House?” and “When is the Fourth of July?”

“Pathetic,” says Head.

“I’m not alone!” says Heart.

Back in the car on March 20th – no stop at the
vending machine because both Head and Heart are somewhat nauseous – the mood is
sombre. Authors of Federalist Papers, names of longest rivers in the US, dates
of the Constitution Convention swirl in Head’s head. Heart’s too busy practicing
saying “Yes” when asked if it’s taking US citizenship sound of mind and free of
coercion.

“Well, she was nice, wasn’t she?” says Heart on the way out
of the interview.

“Easy for you to say,” says Head. “You didn’t answer a
single question, except the last one.”

Heart frolics to the car, thrilled it said “Yes” in the
right place. “Are we done now? Can we vote and travel?”

“No. Got to take the oath.”

“What oath?”

This one: ‘I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely
and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign
prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty, of whom or which I have heretofore
been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and
laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic;
that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms
on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant
service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law; that
I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when
required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely, without any mental
reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God.’

“Holy heart attack,
Head! Can I cross my arteries while I say it?”

“No. But luckily the United Kingdom decrees you don’t really
mean to renounce UK citizenship when you take the oath. We can still celebrate
the Queen’s birthday as dual US/UK citizens.”

Heart’s heart sings. “Excellent. So we’re lying under oath
but it’s government sanctioned.”

“Shut up.” Head’s got a headache.

Another month’s wait and it’s off to the oath ceremony at the Federal Courthouse, bypassing the vending machine because family’s taking Head and Heart to lunch afterwards. If Heart behaves.

Heart bounces through security and gasps at the beauty of
the ceremonial courtroom. “Look at all these hearts! So many emotions wrapped
in colourful packages from all over the world! How pretty!”

“Yep. Heads full of all kinds of rationales from thirty-five
nations. Now, shhh. Listen to the judge. Oh, she’s good. Welcoming, kind,
articulate, respectful of all homelands – and an immigrant herself!”

Heart leaps up and yells, “She just said United Kingdom!
That’s us! WOO HOO!”

Head reads the oath. Heart aches, all hireth-y, but remains respectful.
The flames of Notre Dame rain sad ash over mono-citizenship ties to Europe, but
Head and Heart smile.

The judge says, “Welcome, new citizens of the United States
of America!”

Head and Heart hug. “I’m not crying. You’re crying,” says
Head.

“I cry all the time,” says Heart. “It’s often my job. But, Head,
I’m glad you made me come today. It was the right thing to do.”

“I know,” says Head. “But that didn’t make it easy.”

“Let’s get lunch with the family,” says Heart. “I’m having a
high-cholesterol dessert.”

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6 thoughts on “US Citizenship: Head Versus Heart”

Dear British Head and Heart,
Great story 🙂 Congratulations! Glad to have you. My future daughter-in-law became a U.S. citizen two years ago. I went to the ceremony. Such a beautifully moving ceremony! I cried!

What a lovely piece, funny and moving. For me, the main impetus for getting citizenship was so we couldn’t be kicked out of the US at short notice. But it really is nice to have options on where to live. And when you next fly back in, you might get a moment of satisfaction from joining the slightly shorter passport line.